Means of removably affixing art to a background and removably fixing a frame to a background and assembly therefor and method thereof

ABSTRACT

A frame assembly comprising a frame having a front and a panel to receive at least one piece of art, the panel having a front face having at least one first engagement member affixed thereon; and, at least one second engagement member adapted to be secured to a rear surface of a piece of art, wherein the first and second engagement members comprise male and female engagement members. A framed piece of art and a method or removably affixing one or more pieces or art to a frame is also provided.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This application relates to an improved method of affixing art such as photographs, paintings, lithographs, or three-dimensional art forms to a frame. The art may be framed in the conventional manner prior to being mounted o an additional frame using the methods and assemblies set out herein.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Conventionally, paintings or the like is framed by several means. For example, a painting may be mounted on a hard backing member and then hung from a wall. Alternately, it may be affixed directly to a frame such as by staples. Alternately, it may be removable affixed to a frame by inserting it between a sheet of glass and a backing member wherein the backing member and the sheet of glass are secured together by the frame.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with the instant invention, there is provided a frame assembly and method for producing a collage of pieces of art that are affixed to a frame and preferably removably fixed to a frame.

In accordance with the instant invention, there is also provided a frame assembly and method for removably fixing to a frame at least one piece of art.

In accordance with the instant invention, there is also provided frame assembly comprising:

(a) a frame having a front and a panel to receive at least one piece of art, the panel having a front face having at least one first engagement member affixed thereon; and,

(b) at least one second engagement member adapted to be secured to a rear surface of a piece of art,

wherein the first and second engagement members comprise male and female engagement members.

In one embodiment, the first and second engagement members comprise male and female engagement members and the male and female engagement members are removably engagable.

In another embodiment, the male and female engagement members comprise magnets,

In another embodiment, the male and female engagement members comprise an adhesive member and a surface adapted to receive the adhesive member.

In another embodiment, the male and female engagement members comprise adhesive members.

In another embodiment, the male and female engagement members comprise Velcro.

In another embodiment, the frame is adapted such that the at least one piece of art may be inserted from the front.

In another embodiment, the front is open.

In another embodiment, the front face has a plurality of first engagement members affixed thereon at various positions to define a series of preset positions to receive a piece of art whereby a plurality of pieces of art can be removably affixed thereon.

In another embodiment, the frame assembly further comprises alignment members provided on the frame and the piece of art, the frame having an alignment member associated with at least some of the first engagement members to thereby assist a person to mount the piece of art at at least some of preset positions on the panel.

In accordance with the instant invention, there is also provided a framed piece of art comprising:

(a) a frame having a front and a panel to receive at least one piece of art, the panel having a front face having at least one first engagement member affixed thereon; and,

(b) at least one piece of art having at least one second engagement member secured to a rear surface thereof,

wherein the first and second engagement members comprise male and female engagement members

In one embodiment, the first and second engagement members comprise male and female engagement members and the male and female engagement members are removably engagable.

In another embodiment, the male and female engagement members comprise magnets,

In another embodiment, the male and female engagement members comprise an adhesive member and a surface adapted to receive the adhesive member.

In another embodiment, the male and female engagement members comprise adhesive members.

In another embodiment, the male and female engagement members comprise Velcro.

In another embodiment, the frame is adapted such that the at least one piece of art may be inserted from the front.

In another embodiment, the front is open.

In another embodiment, a plurality of pieces of art are removable affixed to the front face of the panel.

In another embodiment, the front face has a plurality of first engagement members affixed thereon at various positions to define a series of preset positions to receive the piece of art whereby a plurality of pieces of art can be removably affixed thereon.

In another embodiment, the framed piece of art further comprises alignment members provided on the frame and the piece of art, the frame having an alignment member associated with at least some of the first engagement members to thereby assist a person to mount the piece of art at at least some of preset positions on the panel.

In accordance with the instant invention, there is also provided a method of affixing a piece of art to a frame comprising:

(a) providing a frame having a front and a panel to the at least one piece of art, the panel having a front face having at least one first engagement member affixed thereon;

(b) securing at least one second engagement member to a rear surface of the piece of art;

(c) inserting the piece of art into the frame through the front of the frame; and,

(d) bringing first and second engagement members into contact whereby the piece of art is secured to the fame.

In one embodiment, the first and second engagement members comprise male and female engagement members and step (d) comprises bringing male and female engagement members into contact whereby the piece of art is removably attached to the fame.

In another embodiment, the method further comprises:

(a) securing at least one second engagement member to a rear surface of a second piece of art;

(b) inserting the second piece of art into the frame through the front of the frame; and,

(c) bringing first and second engagement members into contact whereby the second one piece of art is secured to the fame

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other advantages of the instant invention will be more fully and completely understood in accordance with the following description of the preferred embodiments of the assembly in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a picture and frame in an unassembled form in accordance with the instant invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the picture and frame of FIG. 1 in an assembled form;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an alternate embodiment of a picture and frame in an unassembled form in accordance with the instant invention;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the picture and frame of FIG. 3 in an assembled form;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of an alternate embodiment of a picture and frame in an unassembled form in accordance with the instant invention;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of an alternate embodiment showing a plurality of pictures and a frame in an unassembled form in accordance with the instant invention;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the pictures and frame of FIG. 6 in an assembled form;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of an alternate embodiment showing a plurality of pictures and a frame in an unassembled form in accordance with the instant invention;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the pictures and frame of FIG. 8 in an assembled form;

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of an alternate embodiment showing a plurality of pictures and a frame in an unassembled form in accordance with the instant invention;

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of the pictures and frame of FIG. 10 in an assembled form;

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of an alternate embodiment showing a plurality of pictures and a frame in an unassembled form in accordance with the instant invention;

FIG. 13 is a cross section through the embodiment of FIG. 12 showing members of the assembly connected together;

FIG. 14 is a perspective view of an alternate embodiment showing a plurality of pictures and a frame in an unassembled form in accordance with the instant invention;

FIG. 14 a is an enlargement of the male and female engagement members shown in FIG. 14;

FIG. 15 is a perspective view of an alternate embodiment showing a plurality of pictures and a frame in an unassembled form in accordance with the instant invention;

FIG. 16 is a perspective view of the pictures and frame of FIG. 15 in an assembled form;

FIG. 17 is a perspective view of an alternate embodiment showing a plurality of pictures and a frame in an unassembled form in accordance with the instant invention;

FIG. 18 is a perspective view of the pictures and frame of FIG. 17 in an assembled form;

FIG. 19 is a perspective view of an alternate embodiment showing a plurality of pictures and a frame in an unassembled form in accordance with the instant invention; and,

FIG. 20 is a perspective view of the pictures and frame of FIG. 19 in an assembled form.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

A simplified perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the instant invention is shown in FIG. 1. In FIG. 1 a piece of art 1 is mounted to a stretcher frame 2 into which four magnets 3, 4, 5 and 6 are recessed and affixed. The picture frame 7 incorporates a backer board 8 onto the rear surface of which four magnets 9, 10, 11, and 12 are affixed. When the piece or art 1 mounted on the stretcher frame 2 is brought into intimate contact with the backer board 8, the magnets 3 and 9, 4 and 10, 5 and 11, and 6 and 12 respectively form an attractive force which holds the art 1 mounted on the stretcher frame 2 onto the backer board 8 thereby mounting the art piece 1 in the desired location in relation to the picture frame 7 as shown in FIG. 2. Optionally, two plastic corners 13 and 14 can be used to assist the alignment of the stretcher frame 2 within the picture frame 7 during assembly and be subsequently removed if a space 15 is desired between the art 1 mounted on the stretcher frame 2 and the picture frame 7.

A simplified perspective view of another preferred embodiment of the instant invention is shown in FIG. 3. In FIG. 3 a piece of art 16 is wrapped around a stretcher frame 17 into which four pieces of adhesive 18, 19, 20 and 21 are mounted in recesses in the stretcher frame 17. The recessed adhesives 18, 19, 20, and 21 are brought into intimate contact with the raised portions 22, 23, 24, and 25 of the backer board 26 to which the picture frame 27 is affixed. The recessed sections into which adhesives 18, 19, 20, and 21 are affixed serve to locate the stretcher frame 17 in relation to the backer board 26 during assembly thereby ensuring that the art piece 16 is in the desired position relative to the picture frame 27 as shown in FIG. 4 and a gap 28 may thereby be created if desired. The adhesive shown in FIG. 3 may be a pressure sensitive adhesive from which a protective layer has been removed to facilitate the art mounting process. Alternately, the adhesive shown in FIG. 3 may be a pressure sensitive tape from which a protective layer has been removed to facilitate the art mounting process. Alternately, the adhesive shown in FIG. 3 may be a Velcro or another similar two component fastening system wherein on element will be mounted in the recesses within the frame and the other will be mounted on the protrusions on the backer. Alternately, the frame may incorporate the protrusions and the backer board can be recessed.

A simplified perspective view of another preferred embodiment of the instant invention is shown in FIG. 5. In FIG. 5 a piece of art 29 is wrapped around a stretcher frame 30 onto the rear of which four pieces of Velcro 31, 32, 33 and 34 are affixed. The Velcro pieces 31, 32, 33, and 34 are brought into intimate contact with their second component elements 35, 36, 37, and 38 which are affixed to a backer board 39 to which the picture frame 40 is affixed. The position of two locating members 41 and 42 affixed to the stretcher frame 30 correspond the positions of locating member receiving holes 43 and 44 in the backer board 39 so that the location of the art 29 can be maintained in relationship to the picture frame 40. Alternately, the Velcro shown in FIG. 5 may be a pressure sensitive tape from which a protective layer has been removed to facilitate the art mounting process. Alternately, the Velcro shown in FIG. 5 may be another two component fastening system or other permanent or semi permanent one or two component adhesive system. Alternately, the Velcro shown in FIG. 5 may be a pressure sensitive adhesive from which a protective layer has been removed to facilitate the art mounting process. It is also possible to employ a plurality of locating members which may originate from the stretcher frame 30, from the backer board 39, or a combination thereof.

A simplified perspective view of another preferred embodiment of the instant invention is shown in FIG. 6. In FIG. 6 four pieces of art 45, 46, 47, and 48 are each individually mounted onto separate rigid substrates 49, 50, 51, and 52 respectively. A square magnet 53, 54, 55, and 56 is mounted to the back of each of the rigid substrates 49, 50, 51, and 52. A series of metal plates 56a, 57, 58, and 59 are mounted onto the rear face of the backer board 60 and square locating holes 61, 62, 63, and 64 are cut into the backer board 60 so that the position of the rigid substrates 49, 50, 51, and 52 relative to the frame 69 is controlled by the mounting position of the square magnets 53, 54, 55, and 56 and their mechanical interaction with square locating holes 61, 62, 63, and 64 cut into the backer board 60. The magnetic attraction between the square magnets 53, 54, 55, and 56 and the metal plates 56, 57, 58, and 59 serves to mount the rigid substrates 49, 50, 51, and 52 to which the art pieces 45, 46, 47, and 48 are each individually mounted. An assembled view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 6 is shown in FIG. 7. It is understood that the magnet shapes and their corresponding alignment holes could be triangular, octagonal, oval or any other shape which would facilitate a fixed rotational alignment. It is also understood that a plurality of magnets and recesses could also be employed to accomplish this task.

A simplified perspective view of another preferred embodiment of the instant invention is shown in FIG. 8. In FIG. 8, four pieces of art 65, 66, 67, and 68 are each individually mounted onto separate stretcher frames 70, 71, 72, and 73 respectively. A series of four square magnets 74, 75, 76, and 77 are mounted onto the back of the stretcher frame 70. A series of four square magnets 78, 79, 80, and 81 are mounted to the back of the stretcher frame 71. A series of four square magnets 82, 83, 84, and 85 are mounted to the back of the stretcher frame 72. A series of four square magnets 86, 87, 88, and 89 are mounted to the back of the stretcher frame 73. A series of magnets 90, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99, 100, 101, 102, 103, 104, and 105 are mounted flush with the face of and into the backer board 107 to which the picture frame 108 is mounted. The series of magnets 90, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99, 100, 101, 102, 103, 104, 105, and 106 are therefore not visible to an observer but are positioned form an array which has the same geometric spacing as the magnets 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88, and 89 which are mounted onto separate stretcher frames 70, 71, 72, and 73 onto which the four individual pieces of art 65, 66, 67, and 68 are each individually mounted thereby allowing the four individual pieces of art 65, 66, 67, and 68 to be mounted into the frame with no tools as shown assembled in FIG. 9. This aspect of the invention allows the frames to be shipped separately from the images thereby allowing a company specializing in art pieces to provide the art to a given retailer from one location while supplying frames from one or more manufacturers who specialize in frame manufacture. This aspect of the invention also affords the customer the opportunity to choose different combinations of images to place in a given frame. FIG. 10 shows the same elements as FIG. 8 with the addition of two rail members 109 and 110 affixed to the picture frame 108 to provide a means of mounting a backer 107 by inserting it into and thereby mounting it against end stops 111 and 112. The backer 107 may be of different colored or different textured or differently imaged backers or a combination thereof this allowing a given frame 108 to appear visually different when combined with different backers 107. This allows a small stock of frames and backers to be maintained by a retailer yet allows the customer a wide range of choices in that the customer can quickly assemble the art piece or pieces of their choice with the backer and frame of their choice. It is also understood that all of the processes and mechanisms described within this patent for assembling the backer and frame could also be used to mount photographs held within photograph frames into which or onto which magnets or other attachment or engagement members are affixed.

FIG. 11 shows an assembly of FIG. 9.

FIG. 12 shows a series of deformable mounting and alignment members 127, 128, 129, and 130 mounted onto the frame 135 as well as a series of holes 131, 132, 333, and 134 created in the backer 136 to receive the deformable mounting and alignment members. The frame 135 can thereby be removable affixed to the backer 136. In a similar manner the frames or rigid substrates 137,138, 139 and 140 to which the art images 141, 142, 142, 144 are affixed also incorporate a series of deformable mounting and alignment members 141 and the backer 137 incorporates a series of holes 142 to receive the deformable mounting and alignment members 141. Thus, a variety of different art images 141, 142, 143, 144 can be mounted to a variety of different backers 136 which can in turn be mounted to a series of different frames 135 by the customer at the point of purchase.

FIG. 13 shows a top view of a portion of FIG. 12 wherein the frame 135 is mounted to the backer 136 by means of the deformable mounting and alignment members 125, and the holes 126. Similarly, the art image 141 is affixed to the rigid substrate 137 which incorporates the deformable mounting and alignment members 125 which connect to holes 126 in the backer 136. It is understood that these mounting techniques may be inter-combined with stretcher frames or other means of mounting the art images.

FIG. 14 shows a series of rigid mounting members 121, 122, 123, and 124 mounted onto the frame 120 as well as a series of shaped holes 116, 117, 118 and 119 created in the backer 115 to receive the mounting members 121, 122, 123, and 124. An enlarged view of the rigid mounting member 121 and the mounting hole 116 are shown in FIG. 14 a. The geometry of the rigid mounting member 121 and the mounting hole 116 are such that the lower portion 155 of the hole 116 is large enough to allow the head 158 of the rigid mounting members 121 to pass through while the upper portion 156 of the hole 116 is only slightly larger than the base 157 of the rigid mounting member 121 thereby aligning and mounting the frame in the desired position when it is inserted and laterally translated in the direction 159. Using a similar principle, an art image such as 145, 146, 147 or 148 affixed to their respective rigid substrates can be affixed to the backer 115 by means of a series of rigid mounting members 153 which interact with a matrix of shaped holes 154. This allows a small stock of frames and backers to be maintained by a retailer yet allows the customer a wide range of choices in that the customer can quickly assemble the art piece or pieces of their choice with the backer and frame of their choice. It is recognized that the rigid mounting members may be affixed to the backer board or that any inter-combination of positions for the rigid mounting members and the holes may be used to accomplish this aspect of the invention. It is also understood that a combination of hooks and holes may also be employed to embody this aspect of the invention.

FIGS. 15, 16, 17, 18, 19 and 20 demonstrate various combinations of different sized images and differently shaped backers and frames onto which a collage of images may be assembled. In this manner and by the means described within this disclosure, a customer may removably affix art, photographic, sculpture or other elements onto a backer and affix said backer removably to a frame. The combination of the alignment elements with a permanent adhesive will also allow the customer to create a permanent mounting of the art, photographic, sculpture or other elements of their choice onto a backer and said backer onto a frame. 

1. A frame assembly comprising: a) a frame having a front and a panel to receive at least one piece of art, the panel having a front face having at least one first engagement member affixed thereon; and, b) at least one second engagement member adapted to be secured to a rear surface of a piece of art, wherein the first and second engagement members comprise male and female engagement members.
 2. The frame assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein the first and second engagement members comprise male and female engagement members and the male and female engagement members are removably engagable.
 3. The frame assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein the male and female engagement members comprise magnets,
 4. The frame assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein the male and female engagement members comprise an adhesive member and a surface adapted to receive the adhesive member.
 5. The frame assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein the male and female engagement members comprise adhesive members.
 6. The frame assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein the male and female engagement members comprise Velcro.
 7. The frame assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein the frame is adapted such that the at least one piece of art may be inserted from the front.
 8. The frame assembly as claimed in claim 7 wherein the front is open.
 9. The frame assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein the front face has a plurality of first engagement members affixed thereon at various positions to define a series of preset positions to receive a piece of art whereby a plurality of pieces of art can be removably affixed thereon.
 10. The frame assembly as claimed in claim 9 further comprising alignment members provided on the frame and the piece of art, the frame having an alignment member associated with at least some of the first engagement members to thereby assist a person to mount the piece of art at at least some of preset positions on the panel.
 11. A framed piece of art comprising: a) a frame having a front and a panel to receive at least one piece of art, the panel having a front face having at least one first engagement member affixed thereon; and, b) at least one piece of art having at least one second engagement member secured to a rear surface thereof, wherein the first and second engagement members comprise male and female engagement members
 12. The framed piece of art as claimed in claim 11 wherein the first and second engagement members comprise male and female engagement members and the male and female engagement members are removably engagable.
 13. The framed piece of art as claimed in claim 11 wherein the male and female engagement members comprise magnets,
 14. The framed piece of art as claimed in claim 11 wherein the male and female engagement members comprise an adhesive member and a surface adapted to receive the adhesive member.
 15. The framed piece of art as claimed in claim 11 wherein the male and female engagement members comprise adhesive members.
 16. The framed piece of art as claimed in claim 11 wherein the male and female engagement members comprise Velcro.
 17. The framed piece of art as claimed in claim 11 wherein the frame is adapted such that the at least one piece of art may be inserted from the front.
 18. The framed piece of art as claimed in claim 17 wherein the front is open.
 19. The framed piece of art as claimed in claim 11 wherein a plurality of pieces of art are removable affixed to the front face of the panel.
 20. The framed piece of art as claimed in claim 11 wherein the front face has a plurality of first engagement members affixed thereon at various positions to define a series of preset positions to receive the piece of art whereby a plurality of pieces of art can be removably affixed thereon.
 21. The framed piece of art as claimed in claim 20 further comprising alignment members provided on the frame and the piece of art, the frame having an alignment member associated with at least some of the first engagement members to thereby assist a person to mount the piece of art at at least some of preset positions on the panel.
 22. A method of affixing a piece of art to a frame comprising: a) providing a frame having a front and a panel to the at least one piece of art, the panel having a front face having at least one first engagement member affixed thereon; b) securing at least one second engagement member to a rear surface of the piece of art; c) inserting the piece of art into the frame through the front of the frame; and, d) bringing first and second engagement members into contact whereby the piece of art is secured to the fame.
 23. The method as claimed in claim 22 wherein the first and second engagement members comprise male and female engagement members and step (d) comprises bringing male and female engagement members into contact whereby the piece of art is removably attached to the fame.
 24. The method as claimed in claim 22 further comprising: a) securing at least one second engagement member to a rear surface of a second piece of art; b) inserting the second piece of art into the frame through the front of the frame; and, c) bringing first and second engagement members into contact whereby the second one piece of art is secured to the fame 